One of Portland’s favorite holiday events, the Christmas Ships Parade, starts the 2012 season this week and runs through December 21. The video above was shot a few years back and gives you an idea of how spectacular this event is.

Portland Christmas Ships Parade Schedule & Info:

From Website:Portland Christmas Ships Parade
December 7-21, 2012

2012 marks the 58th year for the Christmas Ship Parade on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in Portland, Oregon. The Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 60 boatsbetween the two Columbia and Willamette River fleets. Both fleets will be out most every night for two weeks beginning December 7, 2012 and running nightly through December 21, 2012. As we are an all volunteer organization, not all the boats make it out every night.

Without the donations from the restaurants and the hotels along the waterfront, this parade would not be possible. Please book your Christmas parties at our sponsoring restaurants and hotels. They are listed by viewing dates on the fleet schedule links with phone numbers and links to their websites. Their donations are used to pay for our required “Event Insurance Policy”. Each Christmas Ship skipper pays his own fuel costs and receives no money from the donations. Christmas Ships, Inc is a non-profit organization.

Weather and/or water conditions are the only element that will cancel the ships performance. That determination is made by the leaders for the evening one hour before the ships are scheduled to begin performing and will be posted on the Christmas Ships website immediately.

Saturday, Dec 8th – St. Helens, Columbia City, RV Park on WA side
At 6:000PM, both fleets will assemble at the St. Helens City Docks and head downriver to Columbia City, and weather/river conditions permitting crosses to the WA side and the RV Park, then returns to St. Helens City Docks. The fleet is out about two hours. Ships remain overnight at St. Helens City Docks and leave Sunday for the trip up Multnomah Channel. Additional information and outdoor viewing locations

6:00PM

Sunday, Dec 9th – Scappoose, Multnomah Channel to the Willamette River
At 4:30PM, both the Columbia and the Willamette Fleet will meet in the afternoon at Coon Island and leave for Scappoose arriving approximately 5:00PM then continue up the Multnomah Channel to the Willamette River. This is a long night and arrival at the Willamette River is usually between 8:00P and 8:30P. It is not possible to give a closer time frame due to weather conditions, debris in the river, and other conditions beyond our control.Additional information, restaurants, and outdoor viewing locations

5:00PM

Monday, Dec 10th – No Parade this night

Tuesday, Dec 11th – I-5 Bridge area, Hayden BayAt 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Wednesday, Dec 12th – James M Gleason Boat Ramp, WA shoreline, Wintler Park, I-5 Bridge areaColumbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive. Tonight the fleet will remain the first hour in the area of the boat ramp, and across the river to the Washington Shoreline. About 8:00PM, the parade will head downriver to the area of the I-5 Bridge. Tonight the parade will not go below the bridge on the Oregon side. The fleet will be out for about two hours. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Thursday, Dec 13th – I-5 Bridge area, Hayden Bay
At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Friday, Dec 14th – North Portland Harbor
At 7:00PM, the parade will assemble in the area of the James. M Gleason boat ramp, (NE 43rd/Marine Dr), and then head downriver to North Portland Harbor. North Portland Harbor is located on the Oregon side of Hayden Island. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Saturday, Dec 15th – Lake OswegoAt 5:00PM, both fleets will leave RiverPlace Marina(downtown Portland) headed to Lake Oswego, arriving about 6:15P – 6:30, subject to weather and river conditions. The ships will go as far as George Rogers Park and turn back to Portland. Additional information and viewing locations

5:00PM

Sunday, Dec 16th – Downtown Portland, St Johns areaAt 5:00PM, the Willamette and Columbia Fleets assemble in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin across the river in front of OMSI and travel downriver to area of St. John’s arriving at approximately 6:30 PM and remain in the area for about 30 minutes. The parade will then continue on to the Columbia River and each boat owners home port. Additional information and viewing locations

5:00PM

Monday, Dec 17th – I-5 Bridge area/Hayden BayThe Columbia fleet will assemble in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Tuesday, Dec 18th – I-205 Bridge, 164th Ave on Washington side
At 7:00PM, the Columbia fleet assembles in front of the James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, NE 43rd/Marine Drive and heads upriver to the I-205 Bridge, and will turn back at about SE 164th Ave on the Washington side. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Wednesday, Dec 19th – James M Gleason Boat Ramp, WA Shores, Wintler Park, I-5 Bridge area
At 7:00 PM the fleet will assemble in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive. Tonight the fleet will remain the first hour in the area of the boat ramp, and across the river to the Washington Shoreline and about 8:00PM, head to the restaurants in the area of the I-5 Bridge. The parade will not be on the Oregon side below the I-5 Bridge tonight. Additional information and viewing locations

7:00PM

Thursday, Dec 20th – I-5 Bridge area/Hayden BayAt 7:00 PM the fleet will assemble in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Friday, Dec 21st – North Portland Harbor
At 7:00PM, the parade will assemble in the area of the James. M Gleason boat ramp, (NE 43rd/Marine Dr), and then head downriver to North Portland Harbor. North Portland Harbor is located on the Oregon side of Hayden Island. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

Friday, Dec 7th – North Portland Harbor – Combined with Columbia Fleet
At 7:00PM, the parade will assemble in the area of the James. M Gleason boat ramp, (NE 43rd/Marine Dr), and then head downriver to North Portland Harbor. North Portland Harbor is located on the Oregon side of Hayden Island. Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

7:00PM

Saturday, Dec. 8th – St Helens, Columbia City, RV Park (WA side)At 6:000PM, both fleets will assemble at the St. Helens City Docks and head downriver to Columbia City, and weather/river conditions permitting crosses to the WA side and the RV Park, then returns to St. Helens City Docks. The fleet is out about two hours. Ships remain overnight at St. Helens City Docks and leave Sunday for the trip up Multnomah Channel. Outdoor viewing locations

6:00PM

Sunday, Dec. 9th – Scappoose, Multnomah Channel to Willamette RiverAt 4:30PM, both the Columbia and the Willamette Fleet wil meet in the afternoon at Coon Island and leave for Scappoose arriving approximately 5:00PM then continue up the Multnomah Channel to the Willamette River. This is a long night and arrival at the Willamette River is usually between 8:00P and 8:30P. It is not possible to give a closer time frame due to weather conditions, debris in the river, and other conditions beyond our control.Additional information, restaurant and outdoor viewing locations

5:00PM

Monday, Dec. 10th – No Parade Tonight

Tuesday, Dec. 11th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge
At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin across the river in front of OMSI and travel downriver to area of the Fremont Bridge The fleet will go under the bridge and then turns to return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours. Restaurant and hotel links, outdoor viewing location and further details

7:00PM

Wednesday, Dec. 12th – Milwaukie
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace. Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details

7:00PM

Thursday, Dec. 13th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge
At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin across the river in front of OMSI and travel downriver to area of the Fremont Bridge The fleet will go under the bridge and then turns to return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours. Restaurant and hotel links, outdoor viewing location and further details

7:00PM

Friday, Dec. 14th – Milwaukie, Oregon Yacht Club
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace. Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details

Sunday, Dec. 16th – Downtown Portland/St John’s area
At 5:00PM, the Willamette and Columbia Fleets assemble in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin across the river in front of OMSI and travel downriver to area of St. John’s arriving at approximately 6:30 PM and remain in the area for about 30 minutes. The parade will then continue on to the Columbia River and each boat owners home port. Additional information, restaurants and hotels, plus outdoor viewing locations

5:00PM

Monday, Dec. 17th – Milwaukie
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace. Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details

7:00PM

Tuesday, Dec. 18th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge
At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin across the river in front of OMSI and travel downriver to area of the Fremont Bridge The fleet will go under the bridge and then turns to return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours. Restaurant and hotel links, outdoor viewing location and further details

7:00P

Wednesday, Dec. 19th – Milwaukie
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace. Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details

7:00PM

Thursday, Dec. 20th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge
At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin across the river in front of OMSI and travel downriver to area of the Fremont Bridge The fleet will go under the bridge and then turns to return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours. Restaurant and hotel links, outdoor viewing location and further details

7:00PM

Friday, Dec. 21st – Milwaukie, Oregon Yacht Club
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace. Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details